Electric automatic bowling-alley.



D. E. HUNTLEY & W. H. BENTINE. ELECTR\C AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. I914.

1,1513%, Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1; Attorneys D. E. HUNTLEY & W. H. BENTINE.

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I8. 1914.

1,1 5 1 ,269. Patentd Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Acto rn eys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH $0., WASHINGTON. n. c.

D. E. HUNTLEY & W. H. BENTINE.

ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1914.

1 ,15 1 ,269. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- wl l f 41 15 i s L JIE IL -QJLE J Witnesses I W tblnventors w by I I i @726 77z% Attr'nes nurrnn snares Parana orr cn.

DELAN'GEY n. HUNTLEY AND WILLIAM H. BENTINE, or WELLSTON, onio.

'ELEGTRIG AUTOMATIC BOWLING-ALLEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

The present inventn relates to improve' 10 ments in an electrically actuated bowling alley, one Object of the invention, being the provision of an alley of this kind in which each pin when in normal position maintains an open circuit, this circuit to be closed when the pin is'struck or moved by a ball thrown by the player to in turn permit the closing of the circuit to indicate the number" of the pin effected and also assist in connecting other circuits'whereby all pins operate an audible alarm and at the same time insure the proper closing of the circuit to return the pins to normal position; v

A further object ofthe present invention, is the provision of afbox ball ofthis character, in which the pin when in normal position maintains a circuit controlling lever in such position that the'various circuits in the apparatus are maintained open, the same being disposed to be closed or in a position to be readily closed when the pin is moved to abnormal position due to being hit by a thrown ball, there being further provided, a pin resetting device which is selected'by the falling pin and finally manually con- (trolled at the end of the play to return the ins to normal position.

A still further object of the present invention, is the provision of asimple mechanism of this character, by means of which elec- 40 ltrical connection may be made from the lighting circuit within the house or residence, and whereby the mechanism controlled by the pin may be automatically operated to display the various audible andvisual signals which are finally'returned to normal position when the pins are actuated electrically to be reset. I

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear asthe description !proceeds, the invention resides vin the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of \the invention herein disclosed can'be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In thedrawings-Fig'ure 1 is a cross section through the alley adjacent the pin supporting portion of the same, such portion being in front elevation' Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rear portion of the alley showing the pins in normal position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of approximately the portion of the'mechanism shown in Fig. 2. ig. 4 is a longitudinal cross section through the switch carrying casing ofthe present invention showing the various parts in the positions they assumewhen the pins are in both normal and abnormal positions. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view'of one of the pin controlled levers with the pins moved thereaway from to clearly show the operation of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed sectional views through one of the pins. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the pin setting disk. of the magnetic switch used for controlling the motor in operating the pin setting disk. Fig. 11 is an electrical diagram of the complete alley.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the ball receiving portion of the alley, whicliat the rear endthereof is provided with the upstanding casing or supporting portion 2 at the forward portion of whichis projected the two arms 3 in which is fixedly mounted a shaft or rod 4. This shaft or rod 4 has disposed upon it at equidistant points, frictional sleeves 5, which carry each a pin 6. A set screw 7 is provided for locking the sleeve relatively to the pin while disposed between the pins are the frictional sleeves 8 which are locked in position by means of the set screws 8 so that the Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views pins may be frictionally bound upon the rod at so as to-not be reaclil 'r.moved from the full to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig; 4, the friction of such members being sufficient to maintain the pin in the dotted line position until set, as will presently appear. Carried by and projecting fromthe rear face of the head of each pin is a strip 9 of insulation, which constitutes as will presently appear, the means for permitting the various circuits to be selected. 7 i

Mounted within the casing 2 are a plurality of levers 10, the same being constructed and. arranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so as to have horizontal swinging movement upon the p vots 11, a spring 12 being disposed thereupon to normally hold the contact end 13 toward the contact 14 carried by'the plate 15, the block or strip 9 of insulation when the pin 6 is in a verticalposition being disposed to be interposed between the end 13 and the block 14 and thus maintain an open circuit at such point.

When the pin 6 is struck by a thrown ball, and is moved from the dotted to the full line position, as shown in Fig. 4, the following circuit, as illustrated in the diagram in Fig. 11, is closed. This circuit includes the source of electrical energy B, which may be a switch by the lever 10 whenthe' pin is up- I set and consequently select a circuit for the operation of the pin resetting motor'36, a bar 24 is mounted uponbrackets 24 carried within the casing for longitudinal sliding movement, av spring 25 being connected thereto, to normally hold the bar 24-so that the contact end 27 thereof will be out of engagement with the sheath .28 which with the end 27 constitutes the switch, a lug 26 being carried by the bar 24, one to every lever 10, so that when one lever is operated, the bar 24 is moved to cause the end 27 to engage the sheath'28 and is there held until the lever or levers 10 are returnedto their normal position with the block 9 of insulation between the contact portions 13 and 14.

In order to provide a means whereby the pin resetting motor may be energized selectively by the operator or player at the playing end of the alley, there is disposed at such end, a casing. 38, with the spring propelled button 37 whichin turn is in cooperable relation to the armature switch 34, there being further disposed withinthe casing 38,the

electromagnet 30 which is disposed to influ ence. the armature 34 when the following circuit'is closed,'du'e to the'closure of the switch 27 a'nd 28 and tothemanual depression of'the button 37, and the consequent movement of the armature 34 toward the electromagnet30, 7 This circuit includes the battery B, the conductor 16, the end 27 of the bar 24, the sheath 2.8, the conductor 29,

the electromagnet 30, the conductor 3l, ther Yspring propelled contact memberl32 which 1s disposed in the path" of to be engaged by the pin 33 carried by'the armature 34, the conductor 35, the pin resetting motor 36, and

the conductor 23. It will thus be seen that when the armature 34 is moved by the pin 7 37, that the contact member33 will engage the spring propelled contact 32 and thus close the above circuit so that'the electromagnet .30 will be energized and thus maintainthe armature 34 in such closed position magnet .30 and the release of the armature- 34 away from the electromagnet 30.

In order to insure the holding of the armature 34 after the initial closureof the contacts 32 and 33,an d the motor has attained full'sp'eed'and therefore the-coil is being "until the bar 50 is operated to reset the pins 3 i less a'fiected, the Wipe contacts 3921K]. 40 are 3 provided and arranged, as shown in'Figj 9.

In the present apparatus,-when the player 7 has upsetall'of the pins, the audible alarm plished by means of the series of contact: plates 41, there being one toeach1lever10 so that the resilient bridging member '42, which is carried by the end of each lever 10 or bell 47 is energized, this being accom and insulated .at 43 therefrom, Will be" bridged fromleft to right as viewed in Fig. 11 until the extreme one at theright has engaged the contact plate 45. 7 When this is accomplished, the followingcircuit is closed and includes the battery, the conductors l6 l and 44, the contact's41 and bridging con tacts 42,-the contact 45, the conductor 46, the bell 47, andthe'conductors'22 and '23.

In this manner, the bell 47 will continue to ring until the levers are properly reset to the normal position, as shown in Fig. 11. p

r The pm I resetting mechanism, includes a shaft 48, which is mounted for oscillation and as shown in Fig. 4, carries the depend-" ing arms 49 one ateach side of the same and adjacent the respective arms 3, said shaft also being journaled through the arms, while upon the extreme'free'end of the arms 49 is carried the resetting plate 50 which normally assumes the full line position, as

shown in Fig. 4, tobe movedto the dotted line'position and thus reset the pin from its dotted to'full line position.

. l 'order to provide a means for operating 7 the shaft 48 andoonsequently' the resetting Y plate 50 both. from full to dotted line posi- 'tion and Vice versa, there is 'fixedupon the shaft; 48 a disk 52, this disk-52 being nor-' mally actuated in one' direction for a disface of the disk 52 is a swinging member 56 whosetensioniis adjustedby means of the engaging end 58 thereof may have the'ten- 'tance of approximately. 90 degrees by means, of the arm 53 which eXtends radially therefrom and carries thereupon, the adjustable .weight 54. .yPivoted at 55 upon the outer operable relation with v which is fixed upon the shaft 61. A s'pri'ng sion thereof regulated according to the need, the pin 59 being carried by the large gear 60 which is freely rotatable upon the shaft 48 at one side of the disk 52. It will thus be seen that as the gear 60 is moved to carry the pin 59 in the direction of-the arrow as shown in Fig. 8, that the pin will engage the end 58 of the pawl 56, and consequently move the disk 52 and shaft 48 therewith, this action causing the pin resetting plate 50 to be moved from the full to dotted line position, at which time, the arms 49come in contact with the abutting pins 51 which ofier sufficient resistance to permit thepin 59 to upset the pawl 58 against the action of the spring 57, the pin 59 thus passing beyond the pawl 56 and releasing the disk 52 and consequently the shaft 48 and pin "resetting plate 50 to the action of the weight .54 which thus returns the parts from the dotted line to the full line position in Fig. 4, with "the plate 50 out of the way to permitthe pins 6 to be moved to the dotted line'position'.

The motor 36 is provided to-operate the gear'60, and is provided with the shaft 61, upon which is fixed the worm 62 which is in mesh at all times with the gear 60 as clearly illustrated in -Fi g. 3. is closed by the'switch member 32 and 33, the switch at 27and 28 being closed, the motor 36 is set in operation and in turn through the worm gear 62 rotates the gear 60 and as before stated causes the pin 59 to operate the disk 52 and the resetting plate 50.

In order to provide a means for producing a braking action upon the gear 60 so that the same will be stopped after having been moved one full revolution so that the pin 59 will be presented in the proper position for again engaging the end 58 of the pawl 56, a disk 63 is fixed fast upon the gear 60 and is provided with the recessed portion 64 in the periphery thereof, having the rounded cam portion 65 to permit of the roller 66 after passing into the recess 64 to pass thereout of upon the concentric portion of the disk 63, thus causing the brakes to be applied and released sufficiently to bring the shaft 61 and the gear 60 to a full'stop.

The roller 66 is carried in the free end of the pivoted lever '67 which is mounted with its lower end in the lug 68 while the pin 7 O connects the link 71 to the lever 67 intermediate of its ends, .there being connected to the lever, a spring 69 which normally holdsthe roller 66 in engagement with the periphery of the disk 63. I

The link 71 's connected to one end of the bell crank lever 72, which is pivoted at 73 and has its opposite end connected to the brake controlling-member 73 which is pivoted in the support74, the samebeing providedwith the brake shoe-7 5 disposed incothe brake drum 76 Thus when the circuit periphery of the cam 63.

77 is connected to the bell crank lever 72 to normally hold the brake shoe upon and in contact with the brake drum 76.

In the operation of the present device, the player standing at the proper end of the alley throws the ball, as is the usual custom in bowling, and endeavors to hit one or more pins 6 in the row at a point below the rod 4,

this action, as before stated,-causing the pin- 6 to be moved from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and thus permitting the lever 10 to be released and to close the circuit at contacts l3 and 14. As one pin at a time is engaged, the respective visual signal lamps 20 are energized and if all pins at the respective go or play of the players are upsetythe audiblealarm 47 is energized.

At the end'of the play if any of the pins have been upset, the switch at'27 and 28 has been closed, and it is simply necessary for the operator topush uponthe'button 37 and cause the closure of the circuit at contacts 32 and 33, atwhich time, the coil 30 is energized and holds the-armature switch 34'closed'so that the operatormerely has to depress the pin'37 once'to release it instead of maintaining the same closed manually. When this circuit is closed, the pin resetting motor 36 isoperated to in turn rotate the gear 60 and consequently the disk 52 until the same has moved approximately 90 degrees, at which point the pin resetting plate 50 has assumed the dotted line position and engages the arms 51 which retard the action of the pin resetting member 50 and its disk 52 and thus permits the pin 59 of the gear 60 to pass beyond and continue in its rotation, the weight 54 returning the pin resetting plate 50 from the dotted to full line position as shown in Fig. 4, while the gear 60, due to the momentum of the motor 36, travels on until halted by the brake'actuating lever 67 due to the recess 64 in the disk or cam 63. As before stated, this disk 63 is so constructed as to permit the roller 66 to enter the recess sufliciently to slow down the shaft 61 and before the same is brought to a halt to permit the disk 63'to have its rounded portion 65 engage the roller 66 and thus release the brake due to the movement of the lever 67 when the roller 66 engages the concentric hen the various pins 6 are moved from the dotted to full line positions, the circuit opening blocks 9 of insulation were d1sposed between the contact portions 13 and 154- of the various switch controlling members l0 and such levers-or members 1.0 were returned to open circuit position to thus open the circuit to the bell 47, the switch at 27 and 28, and the circuit, as before stated,

between the contacts 13 and 14. Thus all of the parts are automatically returned to their normal positions simultaneously with the resetting of the pin6, such operation being set in motion due to the operation of the but ton 37 which isdisposed at the forward end of the alley and in ready reach to the players.

Although only five pins have been shown it is apparent that any number of pins may be employed, and that such pins may be arranged instead of in a row, as illustrated in triangular shape as is the usual practice in bowling alleys.

e What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus having a ball course over which balls are adapted to be rolled, a plurality ofindependently frictionally fulcrumed pins mounted to be maintained in set or upset position, a pin resetting mechanism, means controlled by each pin for con necting for operation the pin resetting mechanism as a pin is upset, and manually operable means for setting in operation the resetting mechanism after a pin has been upset. i

2. A game apparatus having a ball course over which balls are adapted to be rolled, a plurality of independently frictionally fulcrumed pins mounted to be maintained in set or upset position, a pin resetting mechanism,

means controlled by each pin for connecting for operation the pin resetting mechanism as a pin is upset, manually operable means for setting in operation the actuation of the pin" resetting mechanism after a pin has been upset, and a signal device for each pin.

3. A game apparatus having a ball course over which balls are adapted to be rolled, a plurality of independently frictionally fulcrumed pins mounted to be maintained in set or upset position, a pin resetting mechanism,

Ineans controlled by each pin for connecting for operation the pin resetting mechanism as a pin isupset, manually operable'means for setting in operation the actuation of the pin resetting mechanism after a pin has been upset, and a visual signal device for each pin operated by the movement of the pins.

. 4. A game apparatus having a ball course over which balls. are adapted to be rolled, a

plurality of independently frictionally 'ful crumed pins mounted to be maintained in set or upset position, a pin resetting mechanlsm, meansv controlled by each pin for con necting for operation the pin resetting mechanism asa pin is upset, manually operable meansfor setting in operation the actuation of the pin resetting mechanism after a'pin has been upset, ajvisual signal device for each pin operated by the movement of the pins, and an audible signal device set in operation when all pins have been upset.

5. A game apparatus having a ball course over which balls'are adapted to be rolled,

plurality of independently frictionally fulcrumed pins mounted to be maintained in set or upset position,- a pin resetting mechahas been upset, a visual signal device for,

each pin operated by the movement of the pin, and an audible signal device controlled by the pins and set in operation only when all of the pins have been upset. V v

6. -A game apparatus, having a plurality of swinginglymounted frictionallyheld pins, a block'of insulation carried by each pin, a visual electric signal for each pin, a normally openedswitch for each signal, said block ofinsulation when the pin is upright separating the switch to maintain it open and for permitting the switch to close when the pin is upset, and an electric circuit ineluding a source ofelectrical' energy, said signal and said switch. j

7. A game apparatus, having-a plurality of swingingly mounted frictionally held pins, .a visual'electrical signal for each pin, a switch-for each signal, means carried by each pin-for maintainingthe switch open when the pin is set and for permitting the switch to close when the pin is upset, an

ofthe second switches and to'be energized only when all of the second switches are serially connected.

8.1In a game apparatus, having a plurality of swingingly mounted frictionally held pins, a visual electric signal for each pin, a switch for each signal, means carried by each pin for maintaining the switch open when the pin is set andfor permitting the switch. to close when" the pin is upset, an electric circuit including a source-of electrical tric motor, a switchunder the influence of all of the first switches and closed simul energy, said signal and said switch, an elecsetting mechanism operated, by the motor,

and a circuit including'the motor, and the last two switches,'-whereby when a pin is upset, the last circuit is effective to be manually closed.

9; In a game apparatus, having a plu- 7 rality of swingingly mounted frictionally held pins, a visual electricsignal for each ,pin, a switch for each signal, means carried by each pin for maintaining the switch open when thepinislsetand for permitting; the

tric circuit includingia source of electrical switch to close when the pin is upset, an elec-f energy, said signal and said switch, an electric motor, a switch under the lnfluence of all of the first switches and closed simultaneously with the closure of any one of them,

a manually operable switch, a pin resetting member mounted for swinging movement at the rear of the p ns, and cooperative means carried thereby and the motor whereby the closure of the last switch and the manual closure of the manual switch causes the ener: gization of the motor and the operation of the pin resetting member.

10. In a game apparatus, having a plurality of swingingly mounted frictionally held pins, a visual electrical signal for each pin, a switch for each signal, means carried by each pin for maintaining the switch open when the pin is set and for permitting the switch to close when the pin is upset, an electric circuit including a source of electrical energy, saidsignal and said switch, an electric motor, a switch under the influence of all of the first switches and closed simultaneously with the closure of any one of them, a manually operable switch, a pin resetting member mounted for swinging movement at the rear of the pin, cooperative means carried thereby and the motor whereby the closure of the last switch and the manual closure of the manual switch causes the energization of the motor and the operation of the pin resetting member, and an automatic brake device for halting the motor after the same has moved a predetermined distance and the pins have been reset.

11. A game apparatushaving a plurality of frictionally held swingingly mounted pins capable of being upset by a thrown ball, a pin resetting member mounted at the rear of said pin for movement at approximately 90 degrees and for engagement with the pinsbelow the pivotal point of such pins to move them to upright position, and a motor, a gear operably connected to the motor, a disk operably connected to the pin resetting member, cooperative means carried by the gear and the disk, whereby the disk is moved a predetermined distancewith the gear to swing the pin resetting member, an abutment disposed in the path of the pin resetting member for limiting the movement of the same in pin resetting position, and an automatic brake device for halting the gear and motor after the gear has rotated approximately one full revolution.

In testimony that we claim the fioregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our sig-- natures in the presence of two witnesses.

DELANCEY E. HUNTLEY. WILLIAM H. BENTINE.

Witnesses:

' O. E. FITZPATRICK, L. C. BARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G, 

